| A beloved goddess who often graces the altars of | | | | the 12th century . This has been attributed to the |
| Chinese temples, Kuan Yin (also: Quan Yin, Kwan Yin, | | | | writings in the scriptures of the Lotus Sutra which |
| Guan Yin) is regarded as the goddess of mercy . | | | | suggested that Avalokiteshvara was a shape shifter |
| Buddhist lore suggests she was a bodhisattva | | | | who could take on any guise required to end |
| (enlightened being) who renounced her right to enter | | | | suffering and anguish. He also possessed the power |
| through the Gates of Paradise, when the cries of | | | | to grant children to couples. These factors likely |
| anguish from those suffering on Earth prompted her | | | | resulted in the depiction of Kuan Yin as a "mother |
| to return . Rather than accepting her gift of | | | | goddess." Her role as patron of women and bringer |
| never-ending happiness, she instead became the | | | | of comfort to the sick and suffering, further solidified |
| compassionate protector of man. Kuan Yin was | | | | the female imagery . This female representation |
| initially depicted as a man, an Indian bodhisattva very | | | | became the popular notion in China , though some |
| similar to Avalokiteshvara whose story is identical. | | | | cultures view Kuan Yin as both a man and a woman, |
| The image of Quan Yin as a woman started around | | | | or simply a spiritual being. |